Improvement in stoppers for preserve-cans



V. P. CORBETT.

Fruit .lar.

No. 25,490. Patented Sept. 20. 1859.

Witnesses: Inventor.

AM- PHOTO UTHQCQNN- (OSBORNES PROCESS.)

UNITE SaTns PATENT OFFICE.

V. P. OORBETT, OF \VASIIINGTQN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOPPERS FOR PRESERVE-CANS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 25,490, dated September 20, 1859.

To all whom it may concern-r Be it known that I, V. P. GORBETT, of WVashington city, District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Air-Tight Stopper for Preserving Cans and Jars for Fruit, Vegetables, Meats, &c. 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which Figure 1 represents a top View; Fig. 2, a similar View, exhibiting the expansion of its periphery in the manner hereinafter described; Fig. 3, a sectional view through the center.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I take a disk of wood or metal and cut it into several sections, a a a a, Fig. 1, having in their common center a conically-shaped aperture, as seen in section, Fig. 3, for the reception of the thumb-screw I), having a corresponding conical shape, so that as the screw descends it presses outward laterally the sec tions of the disk, as represented in Fig. 2, thus increasing its periphery, and consequently that of the surrounding rubber h, the pressure of said rubber being uniform and equal against the layer a, the latter pressing with like uniformity against the glass or can.

To the more effectually guard against the admission of air through the radial openings of the upper disk, a circular layer of rubber, 01, is placed upon the lower disk, or, said layer being notched, as represented in Fig. 1, that when the parts are in place and the stopper in its position in the jar or can, the notched parts are pressed upward between the jar and the outer surface of the rubber ring 72, as seen in section, Fig. 3. The thumb-screw I), being turned upon the shaft 1) in its descent, presses outward laterally the section of the upper disk, A, said sections increasing the periphery of the circular ring h, which in turn presses firmly against the sides of the vessel, the notched portions ofthe layer it thus securing an effectual air-tight stopper, simple and economical in its construction and easy of application and removal.

It has been usual heretofore in the manufacture of stoppers for cans for preserved food to employ a plate of metal to form thelower portion of the stopper. This is open to many objections-metals are liable to rust, 'to form salts with the acids of the juices, which dis solve in the fluid and render food objectionable to health or disagreeable to the taste. In order to avoid this I construct the lower plate of glass, which, if it be of sufiicient thickness, will be equally durable with metal, and not liable to the drawbacks indicated.

min the drawings represents the glass plate in situ fastened to the sectional disk A by means of a screw and nut traversing a hole bored in the center of the plate.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The arrangement of the plate m, screw 1), conical nut b, and disk A, composed of two or more sections, a, when the same are used in connection with an elastic band or rim, h,when the whole is adapted to be used as a stopper for preserve-cans, substantially as specified.

Y. P. OORBETI.

Vitnesses:

JNo. H. JOHNSON, HENRY YEATMAN. 

